Which term describes a clarity characteristic confined to the surface of a polished gemstone?

Which term describes a clarity characteristic confined to the surface of a polished gemstone?

• A. Blemish
• B. Bow-tie
• C. Brick-and-mortar retailer
• D. Brightness

Answer: (A)

Surface clarity defects are called blemishes. Blemishes are flaws that occur on the surface of a polished gemstone, such as scratches, nicks, pits, or naturally occurring marks that affect only the exterior. In contrast, internal features are called inclusions. The bow-tie effect is a light pattern produced by the cut and is not a surface flaw, brightness describes overall light return rather than a surface feature, and a brick-and-mortar retailer is unrelated to gem clarity. So the term that matches a surface-limited clarity characteristic is blemish.

Surface clarity defects are called blemishes. Blemishes are flaws that occur on the surface of a polished gemstone, such as scratches, nicks, pits, or naturally occurring marks that affect only the exterior. In contrast, internal features are called inclusions. The bow-tie effect is a light pattern produced by the cut and is not a surface flaw, brightness describes overall light return rather than a surface feature, and a brick-and-mortar retailer is unrelated to gem clarity. So the term that matches a surface-limited clarity characteristic is blemish.